Catch a Fresh Vision for Your Life
Text: Proverbs 29:18
Title: C atch A Fresh Vision For Your Life
ETS: Spiritual Vision is vital to the Believer
ESS: The Christian must be guided by vision from above.
OSS: Christians will seek God for spiritual vision.
PQ: What is spiritual vision and how can I receive it?
UW: Points
Introduction:
I. THE DEFINITION OF VISION
A. The Hebrew word “khaw-zone”:
1. Refers to vision that comes from God.
a)Isaiah's vision (Isa. 6)
b) Ezekiel's vision (Ezek. 37)
c) Peter's vision (Acts 10:9-16)
d)Polycarp's vision (Foxes Book of Martyrs, p.20)
B. The hallmarks of this type of vision:
1. You will see through the eyes of faith.
a) Like those in Hebrews 11
2. You will see others through the eyes of Christ.
a) “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not!” (Luke 13:34)
b) “And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it” (Luke 19:41)
c) “But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.” (Matt. 9:36)
3. You will see self and sin for what they are.
a) “...sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful... O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” (Rom. 7:13b, 24)
4. You will see the Christian warfare for what it is.
a) (Eph. 6:10-18)- READ
II. THE DANGERS OF NO VISION
A. Steps become ordered by what we see through the eyes of the flesh.
1.We see only in part; not the whole picture.
a) “For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.” (1 Cor. 13:12)
2. We fret over what God has already taken care of.
a) Like Elisha's servant (2 Kings 6:17)“And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.”
3. We focus on the problem rather than the problem solver.
a) (Phil. 4:13, 19) “ I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me... But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”
B. Stripped of defences, sin and Satan have a field day.
1.We see only the false image of sin Satan paints for us.
a) (2 Cor. 11:14) “And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.”
2. We fail to see the enemy we are fighting; leaving us open for attack.
a) (Eph. 6:12)“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”
C. Soul-winning ceases to be a focus because we don't see others the way Jesus does.
1. We fail to see the peril of the lost.
a) (John 4:35) “Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.”
2. We fail to understand the heart of the savior.”
a) (Luke 19:10) “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
3. We develop a bitter, critical spirit; turning on other believers.
a) (Hebrews 12:15)“Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled”
b) (Galatians 5:15) “But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.”
c) (Ephesians 4:31-32) “Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”
III.THE DEVELOPMENT OF VISION
A. Conversion Experience
1. It is impossible to see through spiritual eyes without conversion.
a) (1 Cor. 2:14)“But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”
b) (Eph. 2:1) “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins”
2. When conversion occurs, the Holy Spirit enters the believer, imparting the capacity for spiritual vision.
a) (Eph. 1:13)“In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise”
b) (John 16:13)“ Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.”
B. Consecration to prayer and listening
1. It is vital that the believer spend time praying and listening to God.
a) (John 10:27)“ My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me”
b) (Psa. 46:10) “Be still, and know that I am God”
•Like Peter (Acts 10:9-16)
•Like John (Rev. 1:10)
C. Continual study of the scriptures.
1.Since God speaks to us through His Word, it is vital that we allow it to have its full effect upon our lives.
a) (1 Thess. 2:13) “For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.”
b) (Heb. 4:12) “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
D. Complete yieldedness to the Holy Spirit.
1.The Spirit of God reveals the will of God to those who are yielded to Him.
a) (Rom. 8:27) “And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.”
b) (1 Cor. 2:11-12)“For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.”
2. Yieldedness produces obedience.
a) (Rom. 6:16)“Romans 6:16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?”
Conclusion: